The Remote Gambling Association has praised some of the more progressive elements of the European Parliament's resolution on online gambling, which was voted on and agreed yesterday.
The resolution demonstrates a shift in understanding and support for the European licensed online gambling sector and presses the European Commission to ensure compliance with EU law and to pursue infringement proceedings against member states that restrict access to their gambling markets.
The European Parliament's resolution follows the publication of the European Commission's Online Gambling Green Paper earlier this year.
"The European Parliament's resolution demonstrates a marked change in approach,” said Clive Hawkswood, RGA chief executive. “It now wants to regulate rather than prohibit and it is pressing the commission to act against member states which unjustifiably restrict access to their gambling markets. The resolution is clear, reminding the commission of its ‘duty to act swiftly upon receipt of complaints about violations of the freedoms enshrined in the Treaties.' The licensed private remote gambling sector is in full support of those remarks."
Hawkswood also drew attention to the fact that the licensed private remote gambling sector had already been working to deliver European-wide standards, as promoted by the European Parliament's resolution.
He concluded: "There has been a welcome advance in understanding of the licensed remote gambling sector by many MEPs and recognition of the important economic role it plays in stimulating growth and innovation. Fundamentally, however, we should remember that this is a non-legislative process. The next steps in relation to the parliament's resolution and the commission's deliberations regarding its Green Paper exercise are unclear. In the meantime, we will continue to work with receptive and forward thinking member states and to press the commission to enforce EU law."
